Sunday, September 11 2005 13:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Sept 11, 2005) left for Paris enroute New York saying New Delhi was committed to further strengthen the privileged relations of Strategic Partnership that exists between India and France.

"It is our intention to further expand co-operation in the fields of trade and investment, defence, space, civilian nuclear energy, advanced science and technology as well as cultural and civilization ties," he said in his departure statement.

Singh will have wide ranging discussions with French President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Dominique Villepin and other leaders on Monday.

The Prime Minister said he would also be meeting CEOs of major French companies in Paris and informs them about the expanding opportunities for trade and investment in India.

"I will also be meeting academics from French institutions which have a long tradition of scholarships on India," the Prime Minister said adding that his visit to Paris was at the invitation of Chirac.

The Prime Minister said that during his visit to New York, various aspects of UN Reform will be on the agenda, including expansion the UN Security Council and "India will continue to present its case."

Singh is to participate in the High Level Segment of events being organized by the United Nations to mark the 60th anniversary of its founding day.

He will address on September 14 the UN General Assembly, which is to review the implementation of Millennium Development Goals adopted a decade ago.

"We view international cooperation and assistance as an essential element in enabling developing countries to meet the objectives spelled out in the MDG," he said.

The Prime Minister said he looked forward to a number of bilateral meetings with a host of world leaders.

"I will be meeting (US) President George W Bush, (Russian) President Vladimir Putin, (Chinese) President Hu Jiantao, (Pakistan) President Pervez Musharraf and others during my stay."

Singhs would also be attending a meeting of prominent Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, called by Malaysia, as also a summit meeting of the India-Brazil-South Africa forum (IBSA), he said.

"I also look forward to the opportunities to interact with the vital Indian-American community," he said adding that he would utilize his visit to meet CEOs of important American companies interested in doing business with India.

He was seen off among others by United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, Arjun Singh, Raghuvansh Prasad, H R Bharadwaj, Lt Governor of Delhi B L Joshi, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and top officials.